Beholder, second-favourite behind American Pharoah, will miss Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic due to a bad scope.

The Richard Mandella-trained mare won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita in 2013 and was widely regarded as the only real threat to Triple Crown hero American Pharoah following her impressive victory over the boys in the Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar in August.

However, she was found to have bled when she was examined after exercise on Thursday.

Mandella said: “Today when she galloped we scoped her afterwards and found that she had bled. We won’t be able to run her in these circumstances.”

Ahmed Zayat, owner/breeder of American Pharoah, expressed his disappointment at Beholder’s withdrawal. Writing on Twitter, he said: “Shocked and heartbroken [by the news]. I am a Beholder fan and lover. Wish her the best. I commend connections for doing what’s right by her.”

Beholder’s absence leaves Tonalist and Honor Code the new 5-1 joint second-favourites with Track And Ball behind the 8-10 market leader.

Meanwhile, the going on the turf course at Keeneland is officially ‘soft’ after almost an inch and a half of further rain.

Track superintendent Javier Barajas said further rain was anticipated through the remainder of Wednesday and into Thursday, and that his hope for good ground for the turf races at the Breeders’ Cup has now receded.

Barajas said: “The rain is supposed to stop this afternoon, but that is a 30-40 per cent chance. Then there is a 55 per cent chance of rain at 1am tomorrow, but hopefully after 2pm tomorrow we should be OK.

“I’m hoping for some wind in which case we could get good to soft for the start of the Breeders’ Cup races, but I’ve changed my mind about it being good. It can’t be that.”

‘Soft’ is the most severe going description for turf courses in the United States. They do not have the ‘heavy’ that exists in the UK.

Frankie Dettori partnered Derby hero Golden Horn in some light work on the training track as the rain teemed down. The combination engaged in a half-speed exercise around two circuits of the oval track.

The Italian then schooled his Juvenile Fillies Turf mount Illuminate through the starting gate and worked her on the main turf course. Connections of the Richard Hannon-trained filly are happy with her demeanour but far from pleased about the likelihood of soft ground.
– Sportinglife.com